Illuminating area-spanning pavement



(No Model.)

P. M. BRUNER.

ILLUMINATING ANPA SPANNING PAVEMENT.

No. 588,725. Patented Aug. 24,1897.

mi Nonms vzsnspo, Pworamrno.. wAsmNGToN, n. c.

UNI-'TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

-PREsToN M .,BRUNER, oF sr. LoU'isMrssoURi.

ILLUMINATING AREA-SPANNING PAVEMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming partV of Letters-Patent Nof 588,725, dated August24, 1897.

Application filed March 16, 1896.

T0 @ZZ 'wh/0m t may concern.-

Be it known that I, PRESTON-M'. BRUNER, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in IlluminatedVArea-Spanning Pavements and Substructures for Same, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings,forming a part of this specification,wherein- Figure l is a sectional view showing the substructure inposition and the lenses arranged thereon preparatory to receiving thecomposition forming the pavement proper. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectionalview taken on the line 2 2, Fig. l. Fig.l 3 is a longitudinal sectionalView of one of the removable sectional molds. Fig. 4 is a top plan vviewof the same. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of one of thesectional'molds, the same being reduced in length for filling outIspaces when the ordinary molds are too long to be used. Fig. 6 is adetail view of the lens. r

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in illuminatedarea-spanning pavements and substructure for the same, the object beingthat the finished pavement shall have embedded in it regular rows oflenses which transmit light to the area and basement beneath.

My invention comprises the feature of embedding the glass lenses in thebody o1" the concrete, which necessarily'involves means for supportingthe lenses in position While the pavement is being built. In the meansso employed for this purpose are included a removable substructure whichholds the lenses in proper position and other features of noveltyT whichI claim as new and as part of my present invention.

Another feature of my invention resides in the strengthening-girderswhich extend across the area-way, which .strengthening-girders space thesectional molds of the substructure and which, when the molds areremoved, form the facing of the ribs and act as a permanent support forthe pavement. A.

In the drawings I have illustrated an I-beam A, which we will assume isthe building edge of the 'area-way, and a wallB, which we will `call thepavement edge of the area-way, C

sena No. 583,385. (No man.)

indicating the sidewalk-pavement. It is obvious that this particulararrangement will not be found in all area-ways, as varying conditionsexist which might necessitate a slight change in the pavement itself orthe substructure for the same.

D and E are ground supports, upon which are arranged, preferablytransversely of the area-Way, studding or strips F. This studding may beof any size or dimensions, butI prefer to use the same about as arrangedin the drawings. structure are arranged rows of sectional molds G,placed end to end and side by side, as shown. These sectionalmolds arepreferably made labout a foot long and of such height as vit 'is desiredthe ribs of the pavement shall be deep. The side walls of these moldsalso converge towardthe top to facilitate their removal and before usingthe molds are preferably greased on the outside to prevent the adhesionof the composition thereto. The end walls of these molds are preferablyslotted, as shown, and in the top are formed openings g, which are sospaced apart that when a series o'f molds are arrangedend to end theopenings will be equidistant. The walls of these openings are tapered,as shown, for the purpose of leading off any cement or composition whichmight leak between the lens and mold, thus preventing the compositionfrom contacting with the lower lighttransmitting surface of the lens towhich it would adhere and obstruct the passage of rays of light. Thetops of the molds adjacent to these openings are formed with projectionsor recesses to engage the lenses and hold them in place While thecomposition material is being laid. This I consider an essential featurein the construction of this kind of a pavement for the reason that infinishing the surface of the pavement, either by the use of atrowel,straight-edge, or wiper, it frequently happens in the practice ofwellknown methods that the lenses will be displaced, and it would bevery hard to replace them on account of the setting of the composition.By the attachment between the lens and mold which preventsthelens frommoving laterally the composition can be laid and finished withoutldanger of displacing the lenses. f

Upon this iioor of the sub-v IOS) II indicates the lenses, which areformed with lateral iianges at their lower edges, which iianges areeither recessed or formed with projections to cooperate with converserecesses or projections on the molds, whereby when the molds are inposition and the lenses are placed over the openings g with theirrecesses or projections engaging converse parts of themold a regularalinement of the lenses is preserved with little danger of its beingbroken in the laying of the composition material between the molds andaround the lenses. This lateral flange around the bottom edge of thelens also serves as a support for the lens in the composition material,as is obvious.

The rows of sectional molds lnay be spaced by measurement to determinethe width of the ribs, as when the area-way is curved and it is desiredto have the lenses radially disposed, as shown to the left of Fig. 2, orthe molds may be spaced by a removable templet I, (shown in Fig. 2;) butI prefer to employ a permanent templet and strengthening-bar J, as shownin Fig. 2. This strengtheningbar and templet is preferably arrangedbctween each line of molds, and where it is to be permanent I preferthat it should be supported at its ends, as shown in Fig. l;

In constructinga pavement of this class, the ground supports D, E, and Fbeing in position, the Hoor of studding is laid as shown. The sectionalmold-boxes are now placed in position on this iloor and, if templets areto be used, the mold-boxes are placed according to the templets. Thelenses are now arranged upon the mold-boxes and the composition materiallaid between the molds, around the lenses, and upon the templets, if anyare used. Then the composition material has set, the ground supports D,E, and F are taken away, which permits the iiooring to fall. A lightblow struck upon the molds, or rather a succession of light blows struckby a small hammer, will loosen the molds, so 'that they may be easilyremoved without the use of levers, as has heretofore been employed inall substructures of which I am aware. Upon the removal of the molds thepavement is finished. I might add that molds such as shown in Fig. 5 andto the right of Fig. l are identical in construction as the molds shownin Figs. 3 and 4, with the exception that they are much shorter and areadapted to be used in spaces where the regular size molds will not lit.

From the above description it will be seen that when it is desired tospan any width within the limits of strength of the composition tosustain the floor-loads the mold-boxes can be used without requiringspecial lengths to be cut, as has heretofore been the practice wherewooden beams were employed. The moldboxes being arranged end to endenables the train to be made any length, each mold-box or section beinga unit, as it might be termed, so many units being employed to constructthc entire line.

So far as I am aware I am the first to employ short sections ofindpendently-movable mold-boxes designed to be arranged end to end toform an unbroken line of individual or disconnected mold-boxes, thusdispensing with the use of wooden beams, which are objectionable formany reasons, chief among which are, first, cost, loss of material incutting to lit different work, and unreliability as to result, thematerial adhering thereto and the ribs of the pavement cracking andbreaking when the beams are removed. By arranging short sections end toend and spacing the lines so formed by templets no locking or connectionbetween the sections is necessary. In fact, it is desirable that theseboxes be independent of each other and remain as individuals, becausethey are easier to remove from the cavities, requiring no disconnectionin such removal,and, being taken out separatel y, there is no danger offracturing the pavementribs because of the short lengths of thesections. I

I am aware that many minor changes in thc construction, combinations,and arrangements can be made and substituted for the parts of myinvention without in the least departing from the nature and principlethereof.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination with removable supports, of disconnected mold-boxesarranged thereon, said mold-boxes being formed in short lengths orsections which are independently movable, said sections being arrangedend to end to make an unbroken line; substantially as described.

2. The combination with removable supports, of disconnected andindependentlymovable hollow mold-boxes arranged thereon end to end, toform an unbroken line, and lenses arranged on said as described.

3. The combination with removable supports, of disconnected andindependentlymovable hollow m old-boxes arranged thereon, end to end, toform an unbroken line, lenses arranged on said boxes, and means forholding said lenses in position on said boxes; substantially asdescribed.

4. The combination with removable supports, of disconnected andindependentlymovable hollow mold-boxes arranged thereon, end to end, toform an unbroken line, said boxes being open at their bottoms and havingopenings formed in their tops, lenses arranged over the openings in thetops of the boxes, and means for holding said lenses in place over saidopenings; substantially as described.

5. The combination with removable supports, of disconnected andindependentlymovable ho llow mold-boxes arranged thereon, end to end, toform an unbroken line, templets between said lines, to space thempropboxes; substantially IOO IIO

erly, and lenses arranged on said boxes; substantially as described.

6.- The combination with suitable supports, of disconnected andindependently-movable hollow mold-boxes arranged in rows on saidsupports, and means for spacing said rows, said means forming a part ofthe finished pavement; substantially as described.

'7. A hollow mold-box-for illuminated pavement-work, said box having anopening, or openings, in its top the edges of which openings areinclined to conduct off leaking material, to prevent said material fromcontacting with the lower facesof the lenses, and lenses for coveringsaid openings; substantially as described.

S. The combination with removable supports, of independently-movablemolds arranged thereon endto end, t0 form an unbroken line, means on thetops of said molds. for locating and holding the lenses, and lensesarranged on said independently-movable molds; substantially asdescribed.

9. The combination with a hollow moldbox, having an opening or openingsin its top, the edges of which openings are inclined to conduct offleaking material, projections or recesses adjacent to the edges of saidlopenings, and a lens formed with recesses or projections to cooperate.with converse parts at the edges of the opening in the mold-box;substantially as described.

l0. The combination with removable supports, of independently-movablemold-boxes arranged thereon, end to end, each of said boxes being a unitin an unbroken line, said boxes being formed with spaced openings intheir tops to receive and locate lenses, and lenses; substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature, in presence of twowitnesses, this 3d day of March, 1896.

' 'Y PRESTON M. BRUNER.

Witnesses:

HUGH K. WAGNER, AF. R. CoRNWALL.

